Medieval & Romanesque Europe

Early Medieval Europe after the fall of Western Rome

A Brief History of the English Language

Note: Chapters 1 & 2 (up to 2:18 in the video) apply to this section

Spread of Christianity

Purse Cover from the Sutton Hoo Burial Ship

c. 625 CE

Anglo-Saxon

Celtic Hinged Clasp

Belt buckle featuring knotwork, c. 625 CE

Examples of Christian Celtic Crosses

St. Matthew from the
Lindisfarne Gospels

c. 698-721 CE

Anglo-Saxon, Northumbrian

Reading the Margins

Reproduced Pages from The Lindisfarne Gospels

Reproduced 'Carpet Page' from The Lindisfarne Gospels

An Example of the Secrets within Medieval Manuscripts

St. Matthew from the
​Coronation Gospels

c. 800-810 CE

Frankish, Carolingian

Celtic vs Carolingian styles

Response Assignment:

Cultural Comparison:
Early Christian Art in Europe

Compare & contrast the two paintings from class:
St. Matthew from the Lindisfarne Gospels & from the Coronation Gospels.

• How does the Lindisfarne Gospel piece showcase Celtic style?
• How does the Charlemagne Gospel Book piece showcase Roman influence on Carolingian art?
• What do both of these artworks have in common?

St. Michael's Church, Cisnadioara, Romania (c. 11th cent CE)

Interior of St. Michael's

São Martinho de Cedofeita, Portugal (c. 1087 CE)

Lisbon Cathedral, Portugal (1150 CE)

Interior of the Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal (1187 CE)

St. Michael's
Hildesheim, Germany

1001-1031 CE, Ottonian

Interior of St. Michael's

Elevation & Floor Plan St. Michael's

Saint-Sernin
Toulouse, France

1070-1120 CE, Romanesque

Interior of Saint-Sernin

Last Judgement
Saint-Lazare, Autun, France

c. 1120-1135 CE, Romanesque

Entrance of Autun Cathedral with tympanum visible

Detail of right side of the tympanum

Sant'Ambrogio
Milan, Italy

late 11th to early 12th century CE, Romanesque

Sant'Ambrogio compared to Old St. Peter's

Gothic Art

Film Assignment: Building the Great Cathedrals

Modern perceptions of "Gothic" art

The concept behind Medieval Gothic art:

Marvel not at the gold and at the expense but at the craftsmanship of the work. Bright is the noble work; but being nobly bright, the work should brighten the minds, so that they may travel, through the true lights, to the True Light where Christ is the true door

-Abbot Suger, Liber de rebus in administratione sua gestis

Chartres Cathedral (West)
Chartres, France

1145-1155 CE

Capetian

Rose Window, south façade, Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral, south façade 

Exterior wall of Chartres Cathedral

Interior of Chartres Cathedral

Gothic pointed arch & ribbed vault 

Interior of Chartres Cathedral

Royal Portal
Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France

c. 1145-1155 CE, Gothic

Entrance to Reims Cathedral

Detail of the decoration at the entrances

Reims Cathedral facade

Interior (nave) of Cologne Cathedral

Aerial view of Cologne Cathedral

Detail of stonework on Cologne Cathedral spires